Outgoing director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and defended the use of drones within the United States as well as the slow pace that the FBI's investigation into the Internal Revenue Service scandal, according to the Wall Street Journal.
When asked by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, if the FBI was using drones in a manner similar to the way they are used by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Mueller responded in the affirmative. The FBI uses drones but only in very narrow circumstances and only for surveillance purposes Mueller explained, according to the Huffington Post.
Grassley then inquired if the FBI had a policy to ensure that drone use didn't violate the privacy protections of citizens.
"We are in the initial stages of doing that," Mueller said. "I will tell you that our footprint is very small. We have very few of limited use, and we're exploring not only the use, but the necessary guidelines for that use."
Mueller went on to say that drones were being used in "a very, very minimal way and very seldom."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has reservations about the FBI's drone program and fears that drone use will threaten the privacy of American citizens.
"I think the greatest threat to the privacy of Americans is the drone, and the use of the drone and the very few regulations that are on it today, and the booming industry of commercial drones," Feinstein said.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., asked Mueller if the FBI could possibly be more transparent about their means of surveillance in the future. Mueller said greater transparency would be very unlikely.
"There is a price to be paid for that transparency," Mueller said. "I certainly think it would be educating our adversaries as to what our capabilities are."
When the subject wasn't drones the FBI director was questioned about the investigation into the scandal at the IRS. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said that he knew of no victims who had been questioned by the FBI and that he believed the investigation was going far too slowly, according to USA Today.
"It's a high-priority investigation and it needs to be handled with care, but it also needs to be pushed aggressively because it's a very important case," Mueller said.
